JACKSON, MS The Mississippi Transportation Commission (MTC) recently approved the Mississippi Department of Transportation (MDOT) awarding grants to ports across the state for maintenance and improvement projects.

"Mississippi's ports and waterways system helps move local goods and services to the rest of the country, and even internationally," said Transportation Commissioners Dick Hall, Tom King and Mike Tagert in a joint statement by the MTC. "Regardless of the goods that come across the docks of our ports, these grants will help make needed improvements that will continue to support local economic growth and development."

Grants were approved for the following ports in Mississippi:

$504,296- Lowndes County Port, Columbus: Extend and upgrade existing rail spur along the East Bank.
$552,000- Natchez-Adams County Port: Replace North Wing warehouse roof.
$511,335- Port Bienville, Bay St. Louis: Construct two heavy lift areas on existing main dock structure.
$396,331- Port of Greenville: Dock structure upgrade and rehabilitation.
$950,000- Port of Pascagoula: Dock repair at Terminal 1-A.
$273,206- Port of Rosedale: Clearing and prepping of port property for port expansion.
$612,832- Yellow Creek Port Authority, Iuka: Extend existing rail spur at the Northeast Mississippi Waterway Industrial Park.

MDOT's responsibilities include maintaining and improving the state's highways and interstates, but also focusing on providing a safe intermodal transportation network for airports, ports and waterways, railroads, and public transit systems. Each of these modes of transportation play a vital role in transporting people, goods, and services that promote economic growth and development throughout Mississippi.